Carnival cruise passenger who went overboard was 'dead set' on surviving

U.S. Coast Guard rescued James Michael Grimes after almost 20 hours, he says.

LA FAYETTE, ALABAMA -- James Michael Grimes is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview with ABC News after going overboard on a Carnival cruise ship after being missing for almost 20 hours.

The 28-year-old man said he was determined to make it out of the Gulf of Mexico alive, calling it the experience of a lifetime.

Grimes said he treaded water for nearly 20 hours after falling overboard on Thanksgiving Eve -- battling jelly fish, rip currents and shark-infested waters before being airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard on Nov. 24. shortly after 8 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard told ABC News.

Grimes had only been aboard the Carnival Valor for a day before his sister reported him missing. The two were last seen together at a restaurant where Grimes had won an air guitar contest before going to the bathroom.

PHOTO: James Michael Grimes during an appearance on Good Morning America, Dec. 2, 2022.

MORE: Coast Guard rescues man who went overboard on Carnival cruise ship

That is the last thing he remembers. Grimes said he believes the fall overboard knocked him unconscious.

"The next thing I know... I regained consciousness. I was in the water with no boat in sight," he said.

Alone in solid darkness, and the light from the stars and the moon, Grimes decided in that moment he would make it out of the water.

"I felt like I was given a chance right then... you're alive for a reason... that [fall] could've killed me, but I felt like from that moment on, I was trying to stay positive. And, you know when you're here, you're still alive for a reason. So, all you got to do now is swim and survive. I was hoping... they will start looking for me... they will find me eventually," Grimes said.

MORE: Royal Caribbean to offer Starlink internet on all its ships

Grimes was aboard the five-day cruise with 18 of his family members for Thanksgiving. When he didn't return to his cabin that night, his sister reported him missing.

PHOTO: In this March 3, 2022 file photo The Carnival Valor cruise ship sets sail from the Port of New Orleans in New Orleans.

The ship was on its way to Cozumel, a Mexican island in the Caribbean, and was released by the Coast Guard to continue to its destination after the rescue was made.

"The Jayhawk aircrew hoisted the man onto the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport," a statement from the Coast Guard read.

"We are beyond grateful that this case ended with a positive outcome," said Lt. Seth Gross, a Coast Guard Sector New Orleans search-and-rescue mission coordinator.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of all, most especially the U.S. Coast Guard and the mariner who spotted the guest in the water," the Coast Guard said in a statement Thursday to ABC News. "Cruise ships have safety barriers in all public areas that are regulated by U.S. Coast Guard standards that prevent a guest from falling off. Guests should never ever climb up on the rails. The only way to go overboard is to purposefully climb up and over the safety barriers."

Carnival Valor had said in a statement to ABC News that it conducted a search-and-rescue operation after Grimes went missing.

"Carnival Valor retraced its route to support the search and rescue, but the ship has now been released by the U.S. Coast Guard, and will continue on its way to Cozumel. Carnival's Care Team is providing support to the family members of the missing guest who were sailing with him and remain on board," the statement at the time said.

Against all odds, Grimes said he kept a positive attitude and "just kept swimming."

In addition to his attitude, he said it was his will to see his family again that kept him afloat.

"I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there. I was never accepting that this is it, this is going to be the end of my life. I'm 28 years old. I'm too young. This is not going to be it," Grimes said.

"I always thought there's a greater purpose for my life. Now, I know for sure I'm meant to do something on this Earth. And, you know, I don't know. It was just the Lord was out there helping me, giving me strength and helping me stay afloat," he added.

ABC News' Victoria J. Arancio contributed to this report.

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The FBI is investigating the fall of the Carnival cruise passenger who is missing after going overboard on his first cruise: report

  • The FBI is investigating the fall of a Carnival cruise passenger who fell overboard on his first cruise, per Fox News Digital.
  • 35-year-old Ronnie Lee Peale Jr. was returning to Virginia from the Bahamas at the time of the incident on Monday.

The United States Coast Guard said late on Wednesday that it has suspended search efforts for Peale.

Insider Today

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the fall of a Carnival cruise passenger who fell overboard on his first cruise, Fox News Digital reported on Wednesday.

The passenger, 35-year-old Ronnie Lee Peale Jr., was on a Carnival cruise ship returning to Virginia from the Bahamas at the time of the incident.

He was reported missing by his fiancée late Monday afternoon, the cruise ship operator told Insider's Natalie Musumeci and Hannah Towey on Tuesday.

It was his first-ever cruise, his fiancée Jennilyn Michelle Blosser told WTKR.

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Insider could not reach the FBI via phone outside regular business hours. A spokesperson for the federal agency's Norfolk field office told Fox the FBI is the lead investigating agency for the incident.

"The FBI typically has jurisdiction to investigate incidents on the high seas and works closely with our partners in law enforcement and in the cruising industry to collect the evidence and facts of cases," the spokesperson told the media outlet.

"The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is never one we take lightly. We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Peale's family and friends," the US Coast Guard said in a statement.

Peale Jr. "loved the cruise life," Blosser told WTKR . "Being able to drink, gamble, and socialize put him in his happy place."

Carnival Cruise said in a statement to Insider on Tuesday that a review of close-circuit security video footage showed Peale Jr. "leaned over the railing of his stateroom balcony and dropped into the water at approximately 4:10 am early Monday morning."

cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

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Cruise ship passenger who fell overboard found dead 18 miles from Port Canaveral, Florida, coast

Coast guard says 36-year-old woman went overboard off msc meraviglia cruise ship.

Video released by the Coast Guard shows the moment a Carnival cruise ship passenger was spotted and later rescued from the Gulf of Mexico after falling overboard Nov. 24. 

Carnival cruise ship passenger rescued by Coast Guard after falling overboard

Video released by the Coast Guard shows the moment a Carnival cruise ship passenger was spotted and later rescued from the Gulf of Mexico after falling overboard Nov. 24. 

A woman who fell overboard from a cruise ship on its return to the U.S. was found dead Thursday morning.

The 36-year-old victim fell off the MSC Meraviglia as it was returning to Port Canaveral in Florida, according to local outlet Fox 35 .

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER WHO TREADED WATER FOR 20 HOURS SPEAKS OUT, SAYS HE NEVER ACCEPTED THAT 'THIS IS IT'

No further details on the incident will be released until the victim's next of kin is contacted, authorities said.

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship is docked in Florida

Guests on the MSC Meraviglia gather by the pool as the sun sets and the ship prepares to set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, on Oct. 13, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)

"A 36-year-old woman's body was recovered from the water approximately 18 miles offshore Port Canaveral Thursday morning after she went overboard the cruise ship Meraviglia," the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday.

VIKING CRUISE PASSENGER DEAD AFTER ROGUE WAVE SLAMS INTO SHIP SAILING TO ARGENTINA

MSC Cruises USA released a statement Thursday addressing the fatality.

MSC Meraviglia Cruise Ship is docked in Florida

The MSC Meraviglia is docked in Port Canaveral, Florida, on Oct. 13, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)

cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

Port Canaveral signage is displayed on a mat at the entrance of a cruise terminal in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on July 5, 2017. (Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

"The crew performed an immediate search and rescue operation, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard who supported search efforts with boats and a helicopter," the cruise line said. "Unfortunately, despite the rapid rescue operation, the passenger sustained fatal injuries. We are offering our full support to authorities as they investigate this matter."

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Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident.

cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

Watch CBS News

Rescued cruise passenger who went overboard was seconds from death, Coast Guard officer says

By Caitlin Yilek , Rebecca Reingold

Updated on: November 29, 2022 / 7:50 PM EST / CBS News

The Carnival cruise ship passenger who went overboard last Wednesday was near death when he was rescued, according to one of the U.S. Coast Guard officers who saved him. 

Aviation survival technician Richard Hoefle told CBS News he believes "the survivor had about 30 seconds to a minute left before we would have lost him."

The 28-year-old man had "an incredible will to survive," Hoefle said. 

"He fell off a boat, he didn't have flotation, he didn't have radio or flares," Hoefle said. "He just had to do anything that he could with what he had, which was nothing." 

The passenger was reported missing by the crew of the Carnival Valor on Wednesday afternoon, the Coast Guard said last week. 

The Coast Guard was then alerted by the crew of a bulk carrier after they spotted the man in the water, and he was rescued Thursday night about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana.

The man, who had been treading water for more than 15 hours, was airlifted to a hospital, where he is recovering from hypothermia. 

The Coast Guard shared footage of the rescue on social media. 

Footage from the rescue of the cruise ship passenger last night. Can also be downloaded here: https://t.co/xk0pBnVr1E pic.twitter.com/GK1IXCKlgx — USCG Heartland (@USCGHeartland) November 25, 2022

Asked whether he thinks the man will ever get back out on the water, Hoefle said, "I think he'd go on another cruise. He knows how to survive. He survived once already and, just keep his feet on board this time."

  • United States Coast Guard

Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at cbsnews.com and is based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.

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The Carnival cruise ship Valor. Carnival officials said the man was reported missing on Thanksgiving Day after he walked away from his sister at a bar the night before.

Cruise passenger who fell overboard rescued in ‘Thanksgiving miracle’

US coast guard located man about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, after he fell overboard the Carnival Valor ship

In what some officials were hailing as a “Thanksgiving miracle” a passenger was rescued from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday evening after falling overboard from a cruise ship, the US coast guard (USCG) announced.

At 8.25pm on Thursday, the coast guard located a 28-year-old man in the sea about 20 miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana , after he apparently fell overboard the New Orleans-to-Mexico Carnival Valor cruise ship on Wednesday evening.

In a statement to CNN, Carnival officials said the man was reported missing on Thanksgiving Day after he walked away from his sister at an onboard bar the night before at 11pm – likely to use the bathroom.

He never returned, prompting his sister to alert staff members the next day. CNN reports that numerous announcements were made throughout the ship for the man to check in with guest service, but to no avail.

At around 2.30pm on Thursday, the cruise ship alerted the coast guard about the missing passenger.

“Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a call from the Carnival Valor at approximately 2.30pm Thursday, reporting a passenger aboard the cruise ship was missing. Watchstanders then coordinated the launch of several rescue crews to begin searching,” the coast guard said in a statement .

The rescue crews included a boat from Venice, Florida, a New Orleans-based helicopter, as well as airplanes from Clearwater, Florida and Mobile, Alabama, Lt Seth Gross, a USCG search and rescue coordinator told CNN.

The 200-plus-mile search was made complicated by the time difference between when the passenger was last seen and when the Coast Guard was alerted. “We knew that communication with the mariners in the Gulf of Mexico was going to be critical, Gross said.

Six hours later, crew members from the vessel Crinis discovered “a person in the water”, the USCG said.

The person turned out to be the missing passenger.

Aircrew from the coast guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter promptly “vectored into the area … hoisted the man on to the helicopter and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services at the New Orleans Lakefront airport”, said the USCG.

“He was able to identify his name, confirmed that he was the individual that fell overboard,” Gross told CNN. “He was showing signs of hypothermia, shock, dehydration” but was reported to be in stable condition by the coast guard late Friday morning.

“The fact that he was able to keep himself afloat and above the surface of the water for such an extended period of time, it’s just something you can’t take for granted and certainly something that’ll stick with me forever,” Gross said, adding that the water temperature on Thursday night in the gulf was just slightly above 70F (21C).

Gross added: “The will to live is something you have to account for in every search and rescue case. This is one of the absolutely longest [times in the water] I’ve heard about and one of those Thanksgiving miracles.”

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Search for man who fell overboard from cruise ship has ended

AIDA Cruises said one of its crew members was missing after going overboard early on Sunday morning.

Monday 23 October 2023 07:50, UK

A crew member has gone missing from the AIDA perla, pictured

A major search operation has ended after a crew member was reported to have gone overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Kent.

The crew member was on board the German AIDAperla cruise ship when he went overboard in the early morning of 22 October.

HM Coastguard said the search near Ramsgate was ended at about 6pm on Sunday after it had been alerted earlier that day.

A helicopter, a Coastguard aircraft and lifeboats were involved in the operation.

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The ship was reportedly travelling from Hamburg in Germany to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

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Cruise Ship Passenger Who Fell Overboard Texted Wife About Feeling Seasick Before Going Missing

Liam Jones, 23, was last seen on March 16 as his cruise ship headed for Germany, and Hampshire police are now investigating

Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024, and was previously an entertainment reporter at The Messenger.

cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

A British man who has gone missing from a cruise ship in Europe texted his wife just moments before falling overboard, she said.

Liam Jones, 23, of Scotland, was on a weeklong Northern European cruise with his family aboard the MSC Euribia when he fell overboard on March 16, MSC Cruises told Metro .

According to Jones' wife, 20-year-old Sophia Mcphee, the social work student had just texted her that he was feeling seasick prior to his disappearance.

"He's just gone. I'm never going to see him again," Mcphee told the Daily Record . "I'm devastated. I have so many questions, and I'm not getting any answers to what's happened."

Mcphee said that Jones' sister — who called her to break the news of her husband's disappearance — told her that security camera footage showed Jones falling overboard, However, McPhee said she hadn't been updated on the investigation since.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

"[Jones' sister] said there had been an accident, and Liam 'wasn't coming back,' " Mcphee told the Daily Record . "She then said she had seen CCTV and he'd gone overboard."

Mcphee had last seen her husband on March 14, when he departed their Dundee, Scotland, home to meet his family in Glasgow before they boarded the cruise in Southampton the following day, she said. The family was taking the cruise to celebrate Jones' mother's birthday.

"I've been trying to get in contact with the MSC since Monday, but it's been a headache," Mcphee told the Daily Record . "They're not getting back to me."

The MSC Euribia was set to travel from Southampton to Amsterdam over the course of several days, with stops in Denmark, Norway and Germany, according to the ship's itinerary. The international cruise line said the ship was headed to Germany at the time Jones fell overboard.

"A passenger on board MSC Euribia went overboard on March 16 as the ship was sailing to Hamburg. This was reported to the authorities," a spokesperson from MSC Cruises told The Telegraph .

"The police in Southampton boarded the vessel today and investigated on behalf of the coroner," the statement continued, per the outlet. "We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will refrain from disclosing any additional information."

The incident prompted a response from the Hampshire Constabulary, the outlet reported, and a spokesperson confirmed that investigators have begun looking into Jones' case.

"Officers boarded the vessel today following a report that a man had gone overboard," a Constabulary spokesperson told The Telegraph. "The man’s family are aware, and police are investigating this on behalf of the coroner."

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Passenger falls overboard on Royal Caribbean cruise hours after a woman dies on ship

Quantum of the seas was on a 15-day trip from australia to hawaii when the passenger fell overboard, article bookmarked.

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A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship travelling from Australia to Hawaii is missing after falling overboard, Royal Caribbean International confirmed to The Independent .

The passenger, a person from Australia, went overboard on Tuesday, 25 April, around 11 pm Hawaii-Aleutian standard time while sailing on the Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas.

The incident occurred just hours after another passenger allegedly died, according to a report from a local news outlet, 7News.

The ship departed from Brisbane, Australia on 12 April and is expected to arrive in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Friday, 28 April.

But approximately 500 nautical miles south of Kailua Kona, Big Island, the passenger somehow went overboard leading the ship to spend two hours searching for the missing person, according to a press release from the US Coast Guard.

“The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities,” Royal Caribbean International said.

  • What are cruise passengers’ rights when voyages go wrong?
  • Cruise line launches its ‘longest ever voyage’ with 116-night itinerary
  • Cruise ship passenger dies after falling from balcony onto another person

On Facebook, a passenger aboard the ship named Joshua Reynolds, posted a photo of the ship’s crew deploying a lifeboat and said there were three medical emergencies before the passenger fell overboard.

“Three medical emergencies and now a man overboard. We have slowed down and are now turning around. Hope they are found,” Mr Reynolds wrote.

Royal Caribbean did not confirm the details of the other medical emergencies, or the other passenger’s death, but one man claimed the passenger who died was the partner of the person who went overboard according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Royal Caribbean told The Sydney Morning Herald that was not the case.

The Independent has reached out to Royal Caribbean regarding the alleged death.

According to the US Coast Guard, the crew on Quantum of the Seas contacted the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu to assist in the search and rescue.

After two hours of searching, the ship ceased searches and handed it over to the Coast Guard.

Mr Reynolds wrote on Facebook : “It was pitch black. They had tossed half a dozen life vests in the water with the automatic beacons. Nothing. The seas weren’t very pleasant. One of the guys on the 15 ft rescue boat looked like he got sick.”

The Coast Guard said they spent six hours searching for the missing passenger but did not find them. They said their search was to continue at “first light Thursday morning.”

It is unclear how the man fell overboard.

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  • Cruise News

Passenger Reportedly Jumps from Cruise Ship in Front of Family

Picture of Andrea Santillan

Andrea Santillan

  • April 5, 2024

A passenger on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas cruise ship reportedly jumped overboard in front of his family early Thursday morning.

A sun-filled deck on a cruise ship with loungers, a swimming pool, and family passengers relaxing.

According to witnesses, the 20-year-old man had been drinking alcohol and leaped out of a window following a brief argument with his father.

The incident occurred yesterday shortly after 4 a.m. as the ship was sailing off the coast of The Bahamas.

How did the cruise passenger go overboard?

The 18-story cruise ship was sailing from Grand Inagua Island in The Bahamas to Cuba on its final day at sea before returning to Port Everglades.

LIBERTY OF THE SEAS MARINE TRAFFIC

A passenger named Bryan Sims was with the 20-year-old man who eventually went overboard. From the ship’s hot tub, they went to the elevators, where they encountered the man’s father and brother. According to Sims, “he was pretty drunk.”

Another passenger described the events on the ship. “The ship slowed and began rescue efforts without success. The US Coast Guard was called, and a helicopter and a rescue boat were sent. Since those assets have arrived, we have been freed to resume our journey to FLL,” he recounted.

Top view of a cruise ship's deck featuring pools, water slides, and sports courts sailing on blue ocean waters as a cruise passenger jumps overboard in front of family.

According to Royal Caribbean, the crew quickly mobilized search and rescue efforts with the US Coast Guard, who eventually continued the search. The ship’s captain confirmed the man overboard event over the public address system a few hours later.

#Breaking @USCG crews are searching for a 20-year-old man who went overboard from the Liberty of the Seas cruise ship 57 miles from Great Inagua this morning. USCG Cutter Seneca and Air Station Miami HC-144 crews are conducting the search. #USCG #SAR pic.twitter.com/zZPpKOdyCn — USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) April 4, 2024

Meanwhile, the cruise line assured that “Our Care Team is providing support and assistance to the guest’s family during this difficult time. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share.”

In 2023, 15 man overboard incidents occurred on cruise ships. Though rare, they are often fatal, and the people who jump overboard are hardly ever rescued.

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Woman found dead after falling overboard from cruise ship off Florida

The Coast Guard recovered the body of a woman who fell overboard from a cruise ship that was returning to Florida early Thursday.

A 36-year-old woman, who was not publicly identified, was found 18 miles from the shore of Port Canaveral, according to the Coast Guard's Southeast district. She was on the MSC Meraviglia, which is owned and operated by MSC Cruises.

The company offering the woman's family condolences in a statement Thursday and explained that ship's "advanced detection systems" alerted staff members to an overboard passenger.

"The crew performed an immediate search and rescue operation, alongside the US Coast Guard who supported search efforts with boats and a helicopter," MSC Cruises said. "Unfortunately, despite the rapid rescue operation, the passenger sustained fatal injuries. We are offering our full support to authorities as they investigate this matter."

The Coast Guard is investigating why the woman fell and did not have additional details Thursday.

Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Pronouns: she/her.

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At Least 2 Are Stabbed on a Party Boat in Brooklyn

Three people were hospitalized, including a man who was struck in the head with a bottle, and more than 1,000 passengers were evacuated, the authorities said.

Two ambulances parked at the Brooklyn Army Terminal near a ship called the Cornucopia Majesty.

By Erin Nolan and Eliza Fawcett

Two men were stabbed and another was hit in the head with a bottle on a crowded party boat in Brooklyn on Saturday evening, the authorities said.

The men were hospitalized with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, police and fire officials said.

The police said the attacks forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 passengers from the boat, a cruise ship called the Cornucopia Majesty , which was docked at Pier 4 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

A 32-year-old man was stabbed in the torso, a 40-year-old man was stabbed several times in the chest and abdomen, and a 28-year-old man was hit in the head with a bottle, the police said. All three men were taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn.

The stabbings happened just after 5 p.m., the police said. No arrests had been made as of Saturday night, and it was unclear how many attackers had been involved.

The police said they believed that a dispute had escalated into a physical altercation, but that the events leading up to the stabbings were still under investigation.

Just before 8 p.m., the group that organized the party, BYFAR Entertainment, posted a statement to social media .

“Unfortunately, a crime scene developed by the pier, which has caused the postponement of the night event,” the company said. “We will have updates on a later date so just hold on tight with us while we sort everything out. BYFAR Entertainment has always been a beacon of safe events in New York City and this rare occurrence has never been the norm with us.”

In the hours before the fight, the Cornucopia Majesty had hosted a party .

Passengers said in interviews that they had enjoyed dancing, eating and drinking rum aboard the ship, but by early evening, they were standing confused on the pier, surrounded by police cruisers and ambulances.

Glendon Thomas, 29, a resident of New Jersey, said he and several friends realized a fight had broken out on the ship only after they disembarked.

“I saw a guy laying on his friend,” he said, adding that the friend appeared to have a wound on his chest.

Kevaun Whitely, who lives in Brooklyn, said the fight had broken out as a large crowd of rowdy partygoers — many of whom had been drinking alcohol — attempted to disembark through the same door.

“It was like a stampede,” Mr. Whitely, 27, said.

The police kept Mr. Whitely and several other people on board the ship for hours as they checked identification, he said.

“I’m glad we got out safe,” he said, adding, “I hope nobody passed away from all this craziness.”

Erin Nolan is a reporter covering New York City and the metropolitan region. She is a member of the 2023-24 Times Fellowship class. Email her at [email protected] . More about Erin Nolan

Eliza Fawcett is a reporter for the National desk and a member of the 2022-2023 New York Times fellowship class. More about Eliza Fawcett

cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

Student who fell overboard on cruise ship holiday sent tragic last text to wife

A student is believed to be dead after falling from a cruise ship into the North Sea .

Liam Jones, 23, was on board the MSC Euribia departing from Southampton to enjoy a seven-day holiday in Hamburg, France, Belgium and Amsterdam.

The social work student was last seen on 16 March by his sister after he messaged his wife Sophia Mcphee at home to say he felt sick.

The passenger was confirmed missing by MSC Cruises. Hampshire Police started their investigation once the vessel returned to the UK.

His wife shared her devastation at the sudden loss of her partner.

The 20-year-old from Dundee told the Daily Record: “I feel so lost. He’s just … gone. I’m never going to see him again. I’m devastated.

“I have so many questions, and I’m not getting any answers to what’s happened.”

Ms Mcphee saw her partner for the last time on Thursday 14 March before he made his way from their home to Glasgow to meet his family and board the ship the following day.

“I was first contacted by his sister on Sunday. She said there had been an accident and Liam ‘wasn’t coming back’,” she said. “She then said she had seen CCTV and he’d gone overboard. I’ve not had any contact from anyone since.”

Police confirmed they are still investigating the disappearance.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: “Officers boarded the vessel on Friday 22 March following a report that a man had gone overboard.

“The man’s family are aware and police are investigating this on behalf of the coroner.”

A spokesman from MSC Cruises said: “A passenger on board MSC Euribia went overboard on March 16 as the ship was sailing to Hamburg. This was reported to the authorities.

“The police in Southampton boarded the vessel today and investigated on behalf of the coroner. We are deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time.

“Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will refrain from disclosing any additional information.”

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IMAGES

  1. Caught on video: Dramatic rescue of cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

    cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

  2. Moment Disney liner saves passenger from another cruise ship

    cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

  3. Brisbane man missing after falling overboard from Quantum of the Seas

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  4. Carnival Liberty cruise ship passenger missing in the Gulf of Mexico

    cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

  5. Carnival Cruise Ship Rescues Man After He Falls Overboard

    cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

  6. Woman rescued after falling overboard from cruise ship in Bahamas

    cruise ship passenger who fell overboard

COMMENTS

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  7. Cruise passenger who fell overboard tells how he survived 15 hours in

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  8. Passenger describes panic on cruise ship after a man fell overboard: 'I

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  13. Carnival cruise passenger who fell overboard is feared dead as search

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  15. The FBI is investigating the fall of the Carnival cruise passenger who

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  20. Cruise Ship Passenger Who Fell Overboard Texted Wife About Feeling

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  21. Passenger falls overboard on Royal Caribbean cruise hours after a woman

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  22. Cruise Passenger, 23, Reportedly Falls Overboard After Texting ...

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  23. 'I was wheeling and dealing with God': Cruise passenger ...

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